Hello, This old photo is like the publicity photo of Ed Roth sitting in front of a bunch of wrecked cars. A long time ago, Terminal Island, was a community that was over the water channel from the Western end of the city of Long Beach. It had a floating pontoon bridge connecting the island from the Western edge of the city to the South. To the Northern San Pedro side of Terminal Island, was a ferry connecting that city to the island. But, if one was coming from the Westside of Long Beach, a road was provided to head to the tall lift up drawbridge on Henry Ford Avenue. Then later, 1946-48 the tall green Commodore Schuyler F. Heim Bridge was put in place and that took over the main flow of traffic from the Terminal Island Freeway in Long Beach onto the island. Just to the right of the roadway leading to the Terminal Island Road, is an industrial area with several different power plants. Most recently used in the Terminator movies where the new guy gets melted. But back when we were teens, just beyond the big generating plants, was a treasure trove of old junk cars. This was the graveyard. Once these old cars were crushed, they were off to the ships in cube shape to be made into newer cars with recycled metal. (Many years ago, just down the street was the Terminal Island Elementary School, where our dad was a little kid.) There was a giant pile of transmissions, rear ends and front ends during our time as teens. Then another giant pile of old cars of all kinds, some crunched from the weight of others, and some almost still good. It was a drawing card for hot rod folks from Long Beach, Los Angeles and the South Bay area along the coast. Jnaki In the early days, film locations were found here on the island as there were plenty of places. The large junk piles were a photo shoot away for all kinds of publicity from Hollywood studios and advertising agencies. Note: Some cars crush easier than others from the top down. YRMV
Off in the distance near the top left corner you can see So Cal Edison’s Long Beach Generating Station stacks. I worked there for a time and drove over the Henry Ford bridge and cut thru the oil field and over to the plant because I had a key left over from my time at Standard Oil. I remember the stacks of cars and engines mentioned by J …..The old Ford assembly plant is out of the photo and it was where the 56 Victoria I have now was assembled.
Man, that picture really made me miss the days of walking into one of many local speed & custom shops around my area.
The Jalopy Journal
